As CEO and founder of Blackwood Educational Land Institute, Cath has created a 33-acre environmental oasis that attracts thousands of students each year who come to learn where food comes from and to enjoy a peaceful respite from city living. A certified permaculture designer and master gardener, she has created a land-based learning environment supporting schools, teachers, corporations, and other organizations.

Megan grew up camping in the piney woods of east Texas and is passionate about helping people heal by reconnecting to the living earth.  She is a Principal with AMB Parks Consulting, where her practice focuses on soil health, innovative compliance efforts, biomimicry and ecological valuation strategies.  She previously worked for over 15 years with BP Corporation, including work on the Deepwater Horizon spill.  Megan holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Rice University and an M.S. in Environmental Engineering from Southern Methodist University.

Sheila is a retired Building Code Administrator from Houston’s Department of Public Works & Engineering where she was responsible for the city building code and founded the Green Building Resource Center. Growing up in a northern city she loved spending time outdoors and family vacations were opportunities to experience nature through visits to mountains and National Parks. She has worked in many facets of building construction as well as in the hospitality and social service industries. She has been a contributor and activist for environmental and social justice organizations.

Co-founder of New Living, a green furnishings and organic mattress store, Jeff is a Houston-based eco-entrepreneur focused on creating businesses that maximize community impact. His passion for healthy furnishings started at a young age and after graduating from Southwestern University, he went on to found the Urban Land Institute’s national Young Leaders Program. He donates his time to a variety of green organizations like Blackwood and co-founded Axelrad Beer Garden, HTX Made, and Houston Needs A Swimming Hole. In 2015, the Houston Chronicle named Jeff among Houston’s most fascinating people.

Paula Fendley has spent a lifetime in the pursuit of equity and justice. During her 34 years in public education, she has been a high school teacher, counselor, and principal. Paula currently works an educational consultant in Houston. Blackwood holds a special place in her heart and has been the site of numerous transformational experiences with high school students and staff. Her love of nature and appreciation for environmental sustainability make her a huge supporter of Blackwood’s mission. Paula has a daughter who teaches at Pershing Middle School and a son who attends University of Texas at Austin.

AIA, LEED AP
Mr. Williams is a Houston-based registered architect whose practice has focused on green building for residential structures. He has worked since the 1970s to find better siting, design and materials for reduced energy use, lowered water consumption, more renewable resources, closer sourcing, less toxic exposure, and reduced up-front cost and long-term maintenance in architecture. He sees this as a personal conviction and a professional obligation, strengthened by growing concerns over climate change (it is estimated that the building industry is responsible for over 50% of the nation’s greenhouse gases).

Jill McIntyre holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M and a MBA in International Studies from University of Houston. She also studied International Marketing and Management in Italy. Jill worked as a civil engineer mainly focusing on hydrologic projects and masterplanning and post MBA, she has worked as an independent electric power developer, Vice President for IT consulting firm, and President of her own consulting firm.  The job she enjoyed most was homeschooling her children for 8 years.